attack commenced with the det ##ona ##tion of a million pounds ( 45 ##4 @ , @ 54 ##5 kg ) of explosives that had been placed underneath the mess ##ines ridge , destroying the german trenches . the advance was virtually unopposed , and despite strong german counterattack ##s the next day , it succeeded . australian casualties during the battle of mess ##ines included nearly 6 @ , @ 800 men . i anzac corps then took part in the third battle of y ##pres in belgium as part of the campaign to capture the g ##hel ##uve ##lt plateau , between september and november 1917 . individual actions took place at men ##in road , poly ##gon wood , brood ##sei ##nde , poe ##lc
attack commenced with the detonation of a million pounds ( 454 @, @ 545 kg ) of explosives that had been placed underneath the messines ridge, destroying the german trenches. the advance was virtually unopposed, and despite strong german counterattacks the next day, it succeeded. australian casualties during the battle of messines included nearly 6 @, @ 800 men. i anzac corps then took part in the third battle of ypres in belgium as part of the campaign to capture the gheluvelt plateau, between september and november 1917. individual actions took place at menin road, polygon wood, broodseinde, poelc